First Muslim lawmaker elected to House

MINNEAPOLIS — State Rep. Keith Ellison made history Tuesday, becoming the first Muslim in history to go to the U.S. House.

The Minnesota Democrat will succeed 28-year veteran Martin Sabo after defeating his two main opponents — Republican Alan Fine and Independence Party candidate Tammy Lee — by ratios of almost 3 to 1.

"I feel a tremendous sense of responsibility," Ellison said Tuesday night. "I feel like I've got a lot of work to do. I feel like I've got to pull people together and keep them together. We're having fun tonight, but tomorrow, it's on."

Ellison, 43, attracted attention because of his groundbreaking status but also because of controversy over unpaid parking tickets, campaign violations and his associations past and present.

The Detroit native came to Minneapolis in the late 1980s to attend law school at the University of Minnesota. He converted to Islam as a student at Wayne State University in Detroit in the 1980s. His wife, Kim, and four children were with him at his victory party in downtown Minneapolis.

"I feel like a mother who just delivered. I'm not worried about any of the pain," Ellison said.

40 percent of voters went to polls

WASHINGTON — Almost 79 million ballots were cast in this election, with Democrats drawing more support than Republicans for the first time in midterm balloting since 1990.

The overall turnout rate, reflecting a percentage of voting-age population, was 40.4 percent, compared with 39.7 percent in 2002, according to an Associated Press vote count and an analysis by American University's Center for the Study of the American Electorate.

A preliminary analysis showed that turnout was down in some states and higher in others — notably up in Virginia, where it appeared more people voted than in any previous midterm in the state, said Curtis Gans, director of the university research group.

Turnout also was substantially higher in Connecticut, Michigan, Missouri, Montana and Ohio.

The highest recent midterm turnout was 42.1 percent in 1982.

The total popular vote nationwide was 78,707,495.

Ex-GOP opponent takes real swing at foe

DRIPPING SPRINGS, Texas — A Democratic state lawmaker greeting voters outside a polling place was attacked by the GOP opponent he unseated four years ago, authorities said.

State Rep. Patrick Rose defeated Rick Green by 335 votes in 2002. Green confronted Rose at the polling site Tuesday, threw him against a sport-utility vehicle and took a swing at him, authorities said.

Green turned himself in later in the day on a misdemeanor assault charge. He was released on $5,000 bond.

Rose was not injured.

Coal magnate fails in bid to oust Dems

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Coal magnate Don Blankenship failed in his $2 million campaign to persuade West Virginia voters to toss Democrats from the state Legislature.

Blankenship's pro-Republican campaign promoted parental notification for minors undergoing abortions, increased spending for higher education, opposition to gay marriage and the elimination of the state's 5 percent food tax.

But Republicans lost ground in both state chambers. Democrats appeared to have picked up four seats in the House and two in the Senate.

"Don Blankenship spent a lot of money to do nothing," state Democratic Party Chairman Nick Casey said Wednesday.

Republicans have not controlled the Legislature in more than 70 years.

Seattle Times news services